# profound
## English
### Etymology

From Middle English profound, from Anglo-Norman profound, from Old French profont, from Latin profundus, from pro + fundus (“bottom; foundation”).

### Pronunciation

* enPR: prə-found′, IPA: /pɹəˈfaʊnd/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Rhymes: -aʊnd
* Hyphenation: pro‧found

### Adjective

profound (comparative more profound, superlative most profound)
* Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
** 1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog
* Very deep; very serious
* Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough
    a profound investigation
    a profound scholar
    profound wisdom
** 1819, Washington Irving, The Sketch Book, English Writers on America:Where no motives of interest or pride intervene, none can equal them for profound and philosophical views of society, ….
* Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading
** c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?
** 1860, Henry Hart Milman, History of Latin Christianity : including that of the popes to the pontificate of Nicholas V.:Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
** 2019, Shelina Janmohamed, “Long before Shamima Begum, Muslim women were targets”, in Guardian‎:It’s probably one of the reasons the Shamima Begum case is having such a profound impact; one-dimensional stereotypes about Muslim women already run so deep.
** 2023 September 20, Nigel Harris, “Comment Special: And it's goodbye from me...”, in RAIL, number 992, page 3:I visited the wreckage at Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield. Potters Bar and Heck, and the experiences had a profound effect on me - especially Ladbroke Grove.
* Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive
** 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:And with this, and a profound bow to his patrons, the Manager retires, and the curtain rises.
** a. 1662, Brian Duppa, Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion, published 1683:What humble gestures! What profound reverence!

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

### Noun

profound (uncountable)
* (obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.
** 1638, George Sandys, A Paraphrase vpon the Divine Poems, Exodvs 15:God, in the fathomlesse profound / Hath all his choice Commanders drown'd.
* (obsolete) An abyss.
** 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 976-980:[…] if some other place, / From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King / Possesses lately, thither to arrive / travel this profound. Direct my course […]

### Verb

profound (third-person singular simple present profounds, present participle profounding, simple past and past participle profounded)
* (obsolete) To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
* (obsolete) To dive deeply; to penetrate.
** 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:But no man is likely to profound tbe Ocean of that Doctrine

### Related terms

* profundicate
* profundify
* profundity
* profoundness

## Old French
### Adjective

profound m (oblique and nominative feminine singular profounde)
* (late Anglo-Norman) Alternative spelling of profont